NOTE – Circuit Court date changed to November 6, 2pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Battle to Save Reston National Golf Course Moves to Fairfax County Circuit Court
Reston, VA July 23, 2015 – The date of October 23 at 2 pm has been set for a hearing on motions for summary judgment in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County. Fairfax County, Reston Association and numerous petitioners who border the golf course property have all filed appeals asking for a review of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) April decision regarding whether RN Golf Management may sidestep the normal process to change a land use designation and potentially turn the 166 acre Reston National Golf Course into medium-density residential housing.
The Reston National Golf Course is a very popular and profitable public course that has the misfortune to be near Reston’s Silver Line metro. In 2005 Northwestern Mutual (NWM) bought a majority ownership interest in the course with a $5 Million investment, clearly a price for recreational open space, which has been its land use designation since its inception. NWM had other intentions.
The Golf Course provides much more than recreational space for golfers and vistas for those who live nearby or walk the Reston Association paths that run alongside and across the fairways. It is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf Course, which means that the course management is committed to protecting our local environment, conserving natural resources, and providing wildlife habitats. The Reston National property contains “edge habitat” and “old field habitat with hardwood cover” for a great diversity of wildlife. The latter habitat is among the most endangered in Fairfax County.
Rescue Reston is a grass-roots volunteer organization comprising supporters who oppose redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course into residential housing or any site development other than a golf course or comparable open space. The group was brought to action because of a July 27, 2012 proposal by the investor-owners of the Reston National Golf Course to turn the golf course’s open space into a residential development, which is contrary to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan and the Reston Master Plan.
Rescue Reston is raising funds to support homeowners and cluster associations in this important litigation. A win will help protect the golf course as the open space it was always intended to be. Your donations to Rescue Reston will contribute to the costs of this litigation. View a webcast that features an update on the appeal to the Fairfax County Circuit Court at rescuereston.org/donate.
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Contact:
Connie Hartke 571-205-8874, conniehartke@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rescuereston
Twitter: @RescueReston
Videos:
May 19, 2015 Rescue Reston Webcast
Save the Reston National Golf Course Video
– written and filmed by The Kids of the 13th Fairway
Downloadable Flyer: https://www.rescuereston.org/wp-content/uploads/flyer1_ItsNotOver.pdf
“It’s Not Over” Flyer depicting Northwestern Mutual as Goliath and Rescue Reston as David. “All they have is money for attorneys. We have facts and evidence.” – Connie Hartke, President, Rescue Reston